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58 I n the late 1990s, Paris was the epicenter of a glamorous design movement destined to transform interiors across America. Antiques stores along the Left Bank and at the Marché aux Puces brimmed with pale-wood Italian and French furnishings from the '30s and '40s, along with golden-hued Murano glass chandeliers and accessories. Alluring and fresh, the look was a welcome respite after a decade of dark woods and rustic Southwestern furnishings. John Gregory, who opened his namesake antiques showroom in 1998, was one of the first to bring the stylish look to Dallas. "I was traveling to different cities in Europe to buy, but Paris was the edgiest influence," he says. "They were masters at mixing different periods and centuries together." By 2009, Gregory had defined his own look. "I'd eased into selling more colored '70s Italian glass, but there wasn't a lot of demand for it in Dallas. People still wanted gold and clear glass," he says. His focus was on Italian, rather than French furniture. "And I was doing more of a sparse look — cleaner, and not as much of it," he says. Dallas eventually warmed to Gregory's more contemporary take, and for 21 years his store has thrived as one of the country's most respected purveyors of 20th-century Italian furnishings. In May, the showroom moved from its longtime Slocum Street location to a compact spot across North Riverfront Boulevard, on bustling Howell Street. "We get a lot of foot traffic here, and it feels vibrant," he says. The store is open to the public ANTIQUES BY REBECCA SHERMAN. PHOTOGRAPHY LISA PETROLE. ON THE EDGE Barovier 1970 chandelier. Eve sculpture by Fredrique Tomas, circa 1940. Michel Duffet 1930s cabinet.